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March 2024
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A Gabriel Gift

For the 4th Sunday in Advent – RCL – Year B – Scripture: Luke 1:30-31

Hamlet the pig can hardly wait for Christmas. Why is it so hard to wait for good things to arrive? Did Mary have trouble waiting? After all, she had to wait nine months after being told by the angel Gabriel that a wonderful gift to the world was on its way. Baabara the sheep has a surprise for Hamlet, to help him wait for Christmas… a “Gabriel Gift”

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Leap for Joy

Fourth Sunday of Advent From “Scolding the Snakes” Scripture Reference:Â Luke 1:39-55

Preparation: You may have a song queued up to play at the end of the children’s time.Â

Today, how many candles are lit on the Advent wreath? (Children may respond.) It’s the fourth Sunday in Advent, isn’t it? It’s almost – almost – time for Christmas! We want to be ready for Christmas and we want to be ready when Jesus comes to earth again.

Is everyone ready? The Gospel lesson for

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Should We Keep Looking?

To the disciples, it seemed as if they had been waiting forever for God’s Promised One, the Messiah, to arrive. When Jesus finally came, did they need to keep looking? No. The Savior sent by God was finally with them. It would have been foolish to keep looking. When Christmas morning finally arrives, do we have to keep waiting and counting the days until it’s here? No. When Christmas comes, we can celebrate! We don’t have to keep waiting.

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Making Room for Jesus

First Sunday of Advent From “Scolding the Snakes” Scripture Reference:Â Luke 21:34

Preparation: Bring a doll’s crib or a small manger filled with crumpled papers on which you’ve printed “worry and bad-attitude statements” (“Why can’t I have that toy?” “What if she doesn’t like me?” “I want my own way,” “He makes me so mad,” “I need to buy new clothes,” “What if those kids pick on me?” etc.). Also bring a doll, representing the baby Jesus, wrapped in “swaddling cloths” and a blanket.

Today

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A Sharp Lookout

For the First Sunday of Advent From “Sitting on the Rainbow”

Scripture Reference: Mark 13:32-37

Preparation: Prepare a distraction of some type to use later in the sermon. For example, one year, I arranged for a helper to drop colorful confetti from the balcony to catch the children’s attention.

Today is the first Sunday in Advent. (You may, at this time, take note of the Advent wreath and other Advent decorations.) Advent is a time of waiting and getting ready for the arrival of Jesus

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